1 Corinthians 7:10 Meaning and Explanation
“And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →To married believers Paul gives a command rooted in the Lord's own teaching: a wife is not to leave her husband.
What Does 1 Corinthians 7:10 Mean?
Now Paul addresses those already married, and here he speaks with full authority -- "not I, but the Lord." He echoes Jesus' own teaching on the permanence of marriage. The instruction is plain: a wife should not separate from her husband.
Paul grounds marital faithfulness in the words of Christ himself. Where his earlier counsel was advice, this is command, because the Lord has spoken. Marriage is a bond not lightly broken, and the call is to seek wholeness rather than escape. The verses that follow will show compassion toward hard cases, but the foundation is laid here: the union is meant to hold.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 7:10
What does 1 Corinthians 7:10 mean?
To married believers Paul gives a command rooted in the Lord's own teaching: a wife is not to leave her husband.